Error message when software is at its peak

Brian Peasland

Published: 02 Mar 2005

On opening my software application -- built on Visual Basic and Oracle 9i -- I get an error message when the usage of the software is at its peak:

ORA-04031: unable to allocate %s bytes of shared memory

I found out this error is possibility due to the number of sessions that has been created. I don't understand why this is happening. I'm checking the codes of the software to see if there is unnecessary connections opened and to see if there are many record sets opened that may cause a session(possible at times). Please note: once one user, say who has a lot of sessions created on using the software over a period of time, closes his application the sessions get killed. Please tell me as to why these sessions get created. Is it because of improper coding, or if the Oracle tuning has to be looked into? At present, the number of processes is 1,900 and the sessions are 2,095 in the running and spfile.

It looks like your Shared Pool is not large enough. When this happens again, query V$SGASTAT and look for the entry for the 'shared pool' and 'free memory'. If the amount of free memory is low, then you will want to increase your SHARED_POOL_SIZE initialization parameter. It is highly likely that you will have to bounce the database for this parameter to take affect.

Additionally, there is a bug in early versions of Oracle 9i that caused the Shared Pool to mismanage its memory usage, resulting in this error. To fix this bug, you will have to apply the Oracle 9.2.0.6 patchset.

Dig Deeper on Oracle database backup and recovery

Tuning the Oracle database with initialization parameters This chapter excerpt contains tips designed to achieve the greatest performance gain in your Oracle database with the least effort by focusing on the initialization parameters that yield the biggest impact.

Maximum number of sessions exceeded When I run a program through my application server, I get the following error: "ORA-00018:maximum number of sessions exceeded."

Non-zero values for SHARED_POOL_SIZE and JAVA_POOL_SIZE I am getting an ORA-04031 error. I have a two-node 10g RAC cluster. If I gave both SHARED_POOL_SIZE and JAVA_POOL_SIZE values (thus overriding the defaults) how would this affect the running of the CLUSTER? Does a CLUSTER require these values to be 0?

Error due to shared pool size I am working in Oracle 9.2.0.7 under HP UX 11. I get this error very often: "error 4031 in job queue process." Is it a problem with my shared pool size?

Information on stored procedures in 9i I am trying to find out detailed information and help on stored procedures in Oracle 9i. I would appreciate if you could please help me out with this -- I need resources on where stored procedures are stored in 9i and also how to call them from Visual Basic using ADO.

Response to ORA-04031 error I have received the ORA-04031 error. What is the size with which this parameter should be updated?

Related Q&A from Brian Peasland

Managing Oracle connections from third-party apps

Oracle expert Brian Peasland answers one reader's question about common pitfalls when connecting Oracle to outside programs. Continue Reading

Perfect the Oracle RMAN duplicate 10g command

One reader asks expert Brian Peasland a question about datafile sizes with the Oracle RMAN duplicate 10g command. Continue Reading

Managing SQL parent table-child table relations

Managing parent table-child table relations in Oracle SQL environments is key to efficient programming. Continue Reading

Have a question for an expert?

Please add a title for your question

Get answers from a TechTarget expert on whatever's puzzling you.

Meet all of our Oracle Database / Applications experts

View all Oracle Database / Applications questions and answers

SearchDataManagement

Amazon cloud database and data analytics expand

AWS expands its Redshift data warehouse capabilities including managed storage and query acceleration at the re:Invent 2019 ...

Vendors move away from open source database software licensing

While open source is a key to success for many database vendors, it can also potentially lead to a competitive threat from a ...

Oracle looks to grow multi-model database features

Decade after decade, Oracle continues to be relevant in the database market as it pivots to include an expanding list of ...

SearchBusinessAnalytics

Sisense analytics platform update features AI, data prep tool

Augmented intelligence features and an in-warehouse data prep tool highlight Sisense's latest update, its second since acquiring ...

Operation Fistula uses data to treat childbirth injuries

Aided by an analytics stack developed by Exasol, nonprofit Operation Fistula is working to end obstetric fistula in targeted ...

Automated tools broaden the future scope of data science

Automated data science tools may make their way into the data science process, but are unlikely to ever be able to do everything ...

SearchSAP

Partners need to target SAP SMB market for cloud transition

In this Q&A, SAP executive Claus Gruenewald discusses how SAP partners are instrumental in servicing the SMB market and how they ...

S/4HANA Cloud integrates Qualtrics for continuous improvement

The latest version of SAP S/4HANA Cloud embeds Qualtrics XM capabilities that provide a way for users to give direct feedback ...

SAP Data Warehouse Cloud may democratize data analytics

SAP's new SAP Data Warehouse Cloud promises to make data analytics more accessible to the business. It's a needed addition to ...

SearchSQLServer

SQL Server database design best practices and tips for DBAs

Good database design is a must to meet processing needs in SQL Server systems. In a webinar, consultant Koen Verbeeck offered ...

SQL Server in Azure database choices and what they offer users

SQL Server databases can be moved to the Azure cloud in several different ways. Here's what you'll get from each of the options ...

Using a LEFT OUTER JOIN vs. RIGHT OUTER JOIN in SQL

In this book excerpt, you'll learn LEFT OUTER JOIN vs. RIGHT OUTER JOIN techniques and find various examples for creating SQL ...

TheServerSide.com

Public API strategy considerations for enterprise adoption

As organizations look for more cost-effective ways to manage data, an evolving landscape with APIs has made the technology more ...

Ideas on how to hold a successful code hackathon

Want to host a hackathon? Here are some ideas on what a company can do to host an event that solves problems and reenergizes the ...

A Jenkins tutorial for beginners with examples

If you're ready to try Jenkins, this quick start tutorial lays out the specific steps you'll need to take to download and install...

SearchDataCenter

Top 4 open source automation tools for admins

Open source offerings are an easy way to bring automation into your organization. When selecting software, evaluate the user ...

U.S. facility may have best data center PUE

The data center energy efficiency metric, power usage effectiveness, or PUE, is not improving. But one supercomputer data center ...

Increase efficiency with data center temperature monitoring

Data centers must track multiple temperature components. Organizations can use ASHRAE standards and on-premises hardware for ...

SearchContentManagement

New capabilities added to Alfresco Governance Services

The updates are intended to secure electronically stored information residing across different locations in light of recent ...

Top 5 Office 365 skills for SharePoint administrators

Microsoft SharePoint administrators need to branch out in their Office 365 skill set to support products tightly integrating with...

Box cloud content management helps simplify digital work

Box currently has three main areas of focus: integration with enterprise applications, content security and collaboration. The ...

SearchHRSoftware

IT's technology experience problem gets HR tool

Technology deployments have been blamed for loss of productivity and even employee resignations. A new tool from Qualtrics could ...

3 keys to employee engagement measurement

Far too many organizations and their HR departments conduct employee engagement measurement in a way that does more harm than ...

Cornell researchers call for AI transparency in automated hiring

Researchers at Cornell University want vendors to disclose how automated hiring systems are making hiring recommendations. They ...

Dig Deeper on Oracle database backup and recovery

Related Q&A from Brian Peasland

Have a question for an expert?

Start the conversation

0 comments

Register

Login

Forgot your password?

Your password has been sent to:

Please create a username to comment.